Feminist Perspective Of Religion

Question 1

Evidence of patriarchy: religious organisations

Answer 1

Male dominated despite higher levels of female participation

Armstrong- Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism bans female priests. Evidence of marginalisation

Question 2

Evidence of patriarchy: places of worship

Answer 2

Segregate the sexes.e.g. seeting women behind screens while men occupy the central, sacred spaces

Holm- the devaluation of women in religion

Question 3

Evidence of patriarchy: religious laws and customs

Answer 3

Give women fewer rights than men such as access to divorce

Question 4

Matriarchal religions

Answer 4

Armstrong- early religions worshipped earth/mother goddesses

Question 5

What does El Saadawi argue?

Answer 5

Rise of monotheism legitimates power of men over women

Question 6

Woodhead’s religious forms of feminism

Answer 6

Criticises feminist explanations because there are religious forms of feminism despite most forms of religion being patriarchal

Young British women wear the hijab to gain parental approval to go into further education